Electret condenser microphone and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

A microphone includes a housing, an acoustic port formed in the housing, a diaphragm disposed within the housing adjacent the acoustic port, a backplate assembly operably disposed within the housing in spaced relationship relative to the diaphragm and a circuit assembly disposed within the housing. A connecting member extends between the circuit assembly and the backplate assembly to secure mechanically the backplate assembly within the housing and to couple electrically the backplate assembly to the circuit assembly.

1 . A microphone comprising: 
 a housing,    an acoustic port formed in the housing,    a diaphragm disposed within the housing adjacent the acoustic port,    a backplate assembly operably disposed within the housing in spaced relationship relative to the diaphragm,    a circuit assembly including a transistor, the transistor formed to include a conductive attaching surface, and    a connecting member, the connecting member extending between the circuit assembly and the backplate assembly mechanically securing the backplate assembly within the housing and electrically coupling the backplate assembly to the attaching surface.    
   
   
       2 . The microphone of  claim 2 , the connecting member being both mechanically and electrically coupled to the attaching surface.  
   
   
       3 . The microphone of  claim 1 , the connecting member including a plurality of leg members, each leg member engaging a corresponding protrusion formed on a periphery of the backplate assembly.  
   
   
       4 . The microphone of  claim 3 , wherein each leg member is electrically coupled to its corresponding protrusion.  
   
   
       5 . The microphone of  claim 4 , wherein each leg member is mechanically coupled to its corresponding protrusion.  
   
   
       6 . The microphone of  claim 1 , wherein the attaching surface comprises a contact pad forming on a surface of the transistor and the connecting member engaging the contact pad.  
   
   
       7 . A method of making a microphone comprising: 
 providing a housing formed to include an acoustic port;    providing a diaphragm and disposing the diaphragm within the housing adjacent the acoustic port,    providing a backplate assembly and operably disposing the backplate assembly within the housing relative to the diaphragm,    providing a circuit assembly, the circuit assembly including a transistor formed to include a conductive attaching surface, and disposing the circuit assembly within the housing, and    providing a connecting member and extending the connecting member between the circuit assembly and the backplate assembly to mechanically secure the backplate assembly within the housing and to electrically couple the backplate assembly to the attaching surface.    
   
   
       8 . The method of making a microphone of  claim 7 , comprising prior to disposing the circuit assembly within the housing, coupling the connecting member to the attaching surface.  
   
   
       9 . The method of making a microphone of  claim 7 , comprising prior to disposing the circuit assembly within the housing, coupling the connecting member to the backplate assembly.  
   
   
       10 . The method of making a microphone of  claim 7 , comprising providing the conductive attaching surface on a surface of the transistor and coupling the connecting member to the attaching surface.  
   
   
       11 . The method of making a microphone of  claim 7 , wherein coupling the connecting member to the attaching surface comprises both mechanically and electrically coupling the connecting member to the attaching surface.  
   
   
       12 . The method of making a microphone of  claim 7 , comprising providing the connecting member with a plurality of leg members, providing a corresponding number of protrusions on the backplate assembly, and engaging each leg member with its corresponding protrusion.  
   
   
       13 . The method of making a microphone of  claim 12 , comprising electrically coupling each leg member with its corresponding protrusion.  
   
   
       14 . The method of making a microphone of  claim 12 , comprising mechanically coupling each leg member with its corresponding protrusion.